Interview with the brain nomming Zombie Zak

Okay, Zombie Zak, this is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Milk, from the source of all the world's goodness, milk makes chocolate extra yummy.

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s?

Need more; build more, more pieces, more zombie bits, aye, aye, aye!

3 – I know a lot of people ask what the favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to you...what is your favorite comedy and why?

Army of Darkness.  That movie is chock full of schlock, fun, silliness, corniness and out and out fun.  Not a scary movie in the least.  Full of one liners to make any deadite proud, AOD is my favourite comedy.  And, besides all that, did ya see all the dead things in that movie?  They own that story ...

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of?

"Zombie Unicorns" (published in Necrotic Tissue, 2009) - my first published piece of work.  Why am I proud of it?  Well, it was a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down, and I picked up my pieces and put something together that was just plain on the off kilter side.  And I liked it.  And, apparently, so too did the editor, so, win-win!  And, being my first published credit, that's just total groovy.

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned?

How to dial "9-1-1"...It's amazing what kind of delivery service you get from those guys.  You just call the number, indicate that there's a lot of killing and other so called bad things happening, and voila, they send out dinner ... tasty walking snak packs ...

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing?

Absolutely!  Texture, feel and ambiance are important; one can fake a lot of things, but facts are hard to refute.  If you can nail the sense of doing something right in the written word, then little details can be worked out and hopefully one can tell a cohesive story.  I like to have accuracy in the details, I don't like to gloss over facts (even when sometimes it's necessary, but that's the way of that.  Every effort should be made to make sure that the story is the tightest it can be.)

Beyond that, research also allows for an expansion on impressions.  By reading up on seemingly meaningless trivia, sometimes an important factoid spills out that could help make the story better, or, prove that something else needs to be done to get it back to there.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

No novels yet, just the one book of poetry (Chaptered and Versed, Poetic and Cursed.)  It began in Africa ... errr, no, not really.  However, it began as a desire to compile and collect a bunch of my random poetic splatterings and see if I could book form it - turns out I could, and that it was liked by others.  Thus, there will be more, just when and where is left for tomorrow to figure out.

http://www.amazon.com/Chaptered-Versed-Poetic-Zombie-Zak/dp/1453695672

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

In poetry, yes.  I write bits and passages and whole pieces all the time.  The "muse" as it were, overcomes and I spill out my words onto the screen or written page (and yes, occasionally I hand write them.)  Most times, I sit down, putter around and start with a word, or a phrase, and an entire poem will erupt out as it is want to do.

In fiction writing ... less than I'd like, but the drive is to do more.  I have a large framework that I've been building for some time, and if I can push my zombie butt to keep working at it, then the answer will become, prolific.

"Pro-life-ick"  Yes, I consider life to be ick ... But suitable for nomming on, though!

9 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely?

Yes.

Or rather, yes, I like to tell a story that shows that a character is worth something.  That he/she/it can be more than just the archetype of its origin.  (However, some characters are still good when they remain true to type and never change.)  I feel that location is important to the relevancy of the story.  Having an Egyptian zombie in New England, for example, is rather awkward, unless there is a foundation and a rationale that makes sense.  Logic is a buzz that I'm a big fan of.  I might miss it sometimes, but the effort is to craft a story that puts one ready in mind, if not in mindset, of where, what, how and whom the story is about.  I believe strongly that if you can't craft a good character (whether likable or detestable) then the story fails.  However, if you can craft the character with such win (good or bad person) then the story can transcend the limitations of environment or other elements.  Character is king ... because without it, there's no story.

10– What kind of music do you listen to when writing?

Random, completely, totally whatever the iPod decides to play, that's OK by me.  I don't find the music as an assistance to the writing process.  I do, however, find it to be of assistance in providing an alternate distraction to pull me away from what I'm doing, so that I can re-focus on what I'm trying to accomplish.  Every so often, I'll just pull away from the story I'm writing, and listen to the tune that's playing and allow the brain to float freely; once done, the mind returns sharper and finding better footing to finish.

11 – What is the most difficult thing you find about being a writer?

Thumbtacks - they get into the weirdest places and then there's oww ...  Beyond that, the simple thing about spending time harvesting the words from my mind and splattering them onto the page.  So many things going on in my un-life, that I want to clone myself so that I could get more done ...

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I like cookies.  Wait, no, people already believe that ('cause it's true!)

I have never seen the movie, "Titanic" ... and probably never will.

13 – Okay, now promote yourself here, what else have you done that you would like people to know about?

--Old School (published by Bellfire Press), a collection of horror stories about classic horror monsters and a return to what made them really scary.  My contribution to the anthology, is a poem for each story, and a poem that ties them all together.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-School-Belfire-Press/dp/1926912195

--Rogues in Hell (to be published by Perseid Press), is a collection of stories continuing the Heroes in Hell series from the '80's, revolving around the greatest assortment of characters from all of Earth's history ... but in Hell, where they belong!  I have a story that will be in this book when it comes out.

--Who's Afraid of the Boogeyman (to be published by Perseid Press), is a collection of horror stories, that contains my short story entitled, "Bad Mustard" - "I hate mustard, but I love Olive Oil."

--Chaptered and Versed, Poetic and Cursed (published by Twisted Library Press) is my first collection of poetry with a horror bent.  And zombies.  Because, you can never have enough zombies.

--Baconology (published by Twisted Library Press), is a collection of horror stories that revolve around bacon ... because, bacon always makes everything better!  And, I have a story in this collection.

There's a couple of other books that I have stuff coming out in this year, too ... but if I tell you about them now, without knowing when they're coming out ... I might have to eat your brain.

Come visit or follow me on Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube or any other place that I show up on ...

https://www.facebook.com/ZombieZak.ZZ

http://zombiezak.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamZombieZak

Twitter: @ZombieZak

http://www.amazon.com/Baconology-Bill-Tucker/dp/1463699522/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329860053&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Chaptered-Versed-Poetic-Zombie-Zak/dp/1453695672/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329860111&sr=1-1

Interview with Patrick Rutigliano

Okay, Patrick Rutigliano, This is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

 http://www.amazon.com/Black-Corners-Blood-Red-Patrick-Rutigliano/dp/1453756531

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

Chocolate so dark light cannot escape its surface.

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s?

Mostly positive...until I remember the time I sliced my finger open with a pocket knife trying to get one of the blasted plastic bags open.  It was a fine day for stitches, I assure you.

3 – I know a lot of people as what the favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to

you...what is your favorite comedy and why?

That's a tough one as I haven't gone out to see a strictly comedic film in years.  Most of the comedy I like is rooted more in the Vaudevillian tradition of sharp, verbal exchanges (sadly, all but a dead art in modern film).  The Marx Brothers were brilliant.  However, the nerd in me says, "Spaceballs."  Definitely, "Spaceballs."

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of?

As far as short stories go, probably, "The Enemy of my Enemy."  It's got trench warfare, bizarre chemcial weapons, and giant lice woven together with (what I'm told) is a squirm-inducing narrative.  What more could you ask for?

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned?

Clive Barker's pants have more personality than most people I've met. 

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing?

It depends entirely on the work.  If a story is based largely in some element of daily life going horribly amiss, probably not.  If it requires an exploration of time periods I haven't lived through or anything with which I'm unfamiliar, I tend to tear my hear out over details until I get it right.

7 – Tell me about the novels you have written?

I've technically only written one full-length novel so far.  It's a rather mad love letter to the old pulp hero stories.  Dark, post-apocalyptic, period pulp with a twist of Jung would be the best way to describe it.  

8 – Do you consider yourself prolific?

Not especially.  I used to write short stories pretty frequently (about one a week), but my speed has since slowed down.  Nowadays, I aim for one book's worth of content per year--two if I can get away with it.  Compared to some of the writers I know (i.e. Eric S. Brown), that's not much at all, really.

9 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely?

It depends a bit on the format.  With poetry, imagery is everything.  The length of flash fiction limits the amount of character development you can squeeze in, so again, imagery is usually the most vital aspect.  However, with short stories and anything longer, everything takes a backseat to the people inhabiting them.  A reader needs another personality to invest in to keep them going for the long haul.     

10– What kind of music do you listen to when writing?

Oddly, I'm one of the few writers I know who can't stand music while I'm writing.  I don't like any noise at all, really.

11 – What is the most difficult thing you find about being a writer?

For me, it's knowing that I can write the best book or story I can possibly craft and that it still runs a very real risk of never being read by more than a handful of people.  For a creative individual, there is no starker prospect.  The lousy pay doesn't help either.

12 – Something about you that no one would believe.

I engaged in naval warfare with my brother via the magic of theme park special effects.  No, I'm not kidding.  I shot him with a torpedo.  Oh yeah, and I rode a giant bee.

13 – Okay, now promote yourself here, what else have you done that you would like people to know about?

Firstly, my short story collection, "Black Corners of a Blood-Red Room" is available via Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble(.com), and directly through the Twisted Library online store.  It contains forty-six grisly tales exploring everything from organ-harvesting robots to a vampires disgruntled with the portrayals of his kind in cinema.  I guarantee you a good time.  

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Corners-Blood-Red-Patrick-Rutigliano/dp/1453756531 

Also, the above-mentioned novel, "Surviving the Crash," will be serialized on my blog in the coming months before being independently published.  Progress on the book can be followed here:  http://www.patrickrutigliano.blogspot.com.

Interview with John Irvine, contributor to April Fool and other Antipodean horror stories

Okay, John Irvine. This is a little Q & A to get to know a little more about you and thicken up those stalker portfolios.

1 – Milk or dark chocolate?

A:  Oh, definitely dark. I think milk chocolate is at best a teaser for beginners, or at worst a cop-out for the weak stomached and under-cultured.

2 – What are your feelings in reference to LEGO’s?
A:  LEGO? You mean those funky wee plastic bricks? Legend has it that they were designed for kids, but if you think about it for a minute, who do you see playing with them the most? Adult men. Same with model trains… these so-called toys were invented by adult men for adult men who then spread the rumour about them being for kids so they could ‘help’ their kids play without seeming to be overly interested themselves. Personally, I prefer a good old wooden top with a string.

3 – I know a lot of people ask what their favorites are in regard to horror movies, but my question to you...what is your favourite comedy and why?
A:  No need to think much here: my all-time favourite comedy is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Why? It has great music, outrageous characters, fabulous costumes, excellent acting and it’s off-the-wall. It’s very funny yet has some serious messages lurking in amongst the corsets, fishnets and heels… I’ve watched it in excess of 50 times. May even be more.

4 – What is the story/novel you are most proud of?
A:  This is difficult because I’ve written thousands of poems and hundreds of short stories. However, one story I really enjoy re-reading is something called Nobby, about a dog. It’s never been published, but it brings a tear to my eye every time I read it. I do have to admit to being a serious dog lover. In poetic terms, I suppose one of my favourites is a sonnet I wrote years ago called Another Drink. It’s a very introspective and revealing piece.

5 – What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
A:  Well, not standing at the windward rail on a yacht to take a leak was important. But probably not applying your expectations to other people if you want a peaceful and stress-free life is the one I’d regard as ‘the most interesting’ thing I’ve learned.

6 – Do you do a lot of research for your writing?
A:  Depends. I’m mainly a poet who writes horror stories for light relaxation.  My stories tend to be flash length as I don’t have the patience or discipline to write anything longer. I don’t have a novel in me, not even a bad one. Yes, I sometimes research for stories, mainly to get background facts right. Dates, places and so on if they’re genuine. Sometimes the research is more fun that the writing. It’s not hard to get fascinatingly sidetracked on the Internet.

7 – Tell me about the collection you have with Dark Continents?
A:  Well, Tracie McBride and I are both Kiwis, and some of our work reflects that.  When she asked me if I was interested in doing a collection for the e-book I declined at first because the requirements were for a minimum of 20,000 words. If you added all my short stories together I doubt they’d make that total. However, between us we’ve put together a collection of stuff and decided to keep an Antipodean theme throughout. Tracie currently resides in Australia with her family, and I spent 29 years wandering about all over the place there before returning to NZ in 1996. So you see we both have a fairly good grip on things Australian. Of course, not all the stories are Australian-oriented… some are NZ-based as you might expect.                                  

http://www.amazon.com/April-Antipodean-horror-stories-ebook/dp/B006SLDKSO/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328072455&sr=8-1-spell

8 – How do you like to tell a story? Character driven, location of importance, or something else entirely?
A:  I’m not all that experienced, really. I’ve never done English Lit, for example, or attended any writing classes, on or offline. I have no degrees in anything, so I’m really at a loss trying to explain how I come to a story. I don’t ever plan a sequence of events; I usually thrash blindly along allowing the story to drag me  behind in its wake. I usually end up in a totally different place than I thought I would. The basic idea will come often as a phrase or sentence, usually unbidden and at devilish times of the night. Mostly, what comes has no reference to anything I’ve being thinking during the day, although sometimes a phrase in a song will trigger an idea. It’s the same with my poetry, although I do write poetry to prompts which can be a lot of fun. I also love writing utter nonsense. Lewis Carroll is one of my poetic heroes. I suppose, however, that my fiction writing is character-driven.

9 – What kind of music do you listen to when writing?
A:  Varies a bit, but Leonard Cohen or Pink Floyd mostly. Although I do write a lot without music playing. I don’t specifically need music to write to.

10 – What is the most difficult thing you find about being a writer?
A:  Oh, without doubt finding a reliable publisher! We’ve all got walls papered with rejection slips. Well, we did before the Internet and email of course. Now one is fortunate indeed to receive a terse, unsigned email rejection. It’s this that convinced me to accept an invitation to join up with Dark Continents… they have a fresh and innovative approach to the eternal problem.

11 – Something about you that no one would believe.
A:  That I am insecure and lack confidence. I learned to hide it many, many years ago by developing a smart mouth and honing my sarcasm. Sometimes, oft times, I think I have become the mask.

12 – Okay, now promote yourself here; what else have you done that you would like people to know about?

A:  How many pages have I got? I’ve been a drifter for a lot of my life, accumulating the odd marriage and a few kids. Never been much of a family or career man. I’ve been a lot of places and seen some amazing things, stuff that has come back to me since I started writing (seriously) in about 1998. I’ve been a company rep, motorcycle racer, bistro cook, jet ski shop manager, house sitter, web page designer, farmer, farm manager, yacht deck hand, singer/guitarist, manager of a jungle resort in PNG… there’s more, but that’s enough.

I have had several collections of poetry published, both horror and ‘normal,’ and have been a contributing editor in about 10 anthologies.  DCP recently released a new collection and an anthology of mine at the World Horror Con for which I am very grateful. Folks may see all the books I’ve been involved with on my website  www.cooldragon.co.nz  which has samples to read and links to purchase.

Oh, and I do rather enjoy the temptations of Bacchus…